I hate my job
Posted on | June 21, 2010 | 28 Comments
Guess how many times the phrase
I hate my job
was typed into google last month?
The answer is: 49,500.
Somewhere…
In the English speaking world alone…
1,650 people searched for answers to “I hate my job” on the planet’s biggest search engine…
Every day throughout May 2010.
It’s the worst feeling.
The feeling of being dragged by the heels into a place you loathe. Every single f**king day.
It’s worse when you feel like you can’t get out. Because of financial commitments, expectations, pressure…
Or just fear.
It’s harder when you don’t know why you’re thinking I hate my job. Maybe you’re just whinging… In which case, stop whinging.
Talk to the guy who’s just lost his job and doesn’t know how he’ll support his wife and new baby on the way. Talk to the newly arrived migrant who’s a qualified doctor, but is looking for a factory job for a fresh start after living through war. Talk to the 8 year old who can’t go to school because she has to work in a rubbish dump for a dollar a day.
Perspective.
Gratitude.
Getting on with it.
For some people though, they’re not just whinging. There are serious problems in the workplace, like bullying, harassment and intimidation that makes work unbearable.
If that’s your situation, you need to get help.
Talk to your union rep, counsellor, lawyer, trusted colleague, manager or human resources department… You need to regain control when you feel helpless. You can only do that with a strong voice and support.
Maybe you’re going through over-work, too much stress, not enough work, crazy office politics that drives you insane, lack of passion…
All these things can make you think “I hate my job” too.
In any event, you have to feel in control of your situation. The downward spiral worsens fairly rapidly when you feel trapped. Stuck. Like there’s nothing you can do.
There’s always something you can do to make it better.
What that is, for you, is something you have to find the answer to.
Do you need to have a difficult conversation with someone? Confront your fears? Take a stand? Build your skills outside your job? Quit?
For me, the answer – eventually – was to leave.
Taking the leap was a process that took a couple of years. But I did it. And when it happened, the timing was perfect for where I was in life.
I went through confusion and frustration, not knowing why I felt I hated my job. It was a combination of things.
Some days were okay. Then I’d have really bad days. And when they were not so bad, I’d try to forget the bad days. Until they inevitably came back.
Part of my sadness at work, was not knowing whether I was good enough to go back out in the marketplace to sell myself.
I had lost so much self-confidence that I thought no one would hire me.
What helped, was building skills outside of my work – to give me the confidence and the knowledge that, no matter what, I could always earn money.
Independence from my employer (who, at the time, was the only hand that fed me) was crucial – mentally, emotionally and financially.
One of the skills I developed was the ability to make money online.
Yes, from the internet. I learned how to make money by myself. Just me, my computer and my internet connection. I got my start from this affiliate link.
Internet marketing is a skill I’ve been chipping away at for a little while now. And it’s helped me to get that independence and self-confidence I lost, somewhere along the way after finishing university, bright-eyed and energetic.
I now work in a job that I love. And I’m still building up my skills to be an independent online entrepreneur. I’ll never have to feel like I hate my job ever again.
If you want to know how I learned these internet marketing skills, take a look at my affiliate link.
Ever felt like you hated your job? What did you do to change your situation?
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8 comments
June 21st, 2010 @ 7:21 PM
Great post. I really enjoyed how you showed the stats about “I hate my job” and possible solutions if a person feels that way. It was also great reading about your job history.
Good luck with your new job and your new online internet marketing skills.
Tanny
Tania Shipman´s last blog ..For a Few Dollars More Competition Rules
June 21st, 2010 @ 7:55 PM
I really did hate my job and even those I was on six figures a year it made no difference. They could have tripled my salary and it would have made no difference! When your time is up you have to make the jump. It wasn’t an easy transition although nearly 2 years on I have never looked back. I’m with you all the way
)
Clint Maher´s last blog ..Perth SEO – Get Rankings and Qualified Buyers
June 21st, 2010 @ 8:10 PM
Hi Tanny – Thanks for stopping by. Those numbers are staggering. I still can’t believe that many people are typing “i hate my job” into google, searching for answers…
Hi Clint – You’re an inspiration. So many people would love to do what you’ve done and continue to do. I guess we all have to go through this our own way and learn our own lessons in our own time. Great thing is, you can get amazing leverage when you hate your job that much.
June 21st, 2010 @ 8:30 PM
Hi Lina,
I think you captured perfectly how a lot of people feel.
It’s a good thing that we have the choice to make changes in our lives.
Sure, we may have gone to a job we hate today, but we can certainly choose not to tomorrow.
June 21st, 2010 @ 8:48 PM
Those figures are amazing Lina! I think so often people think, ‘what’s wrong with me?’ as they feel like it’s just them. I think it’s quite a relief to know that they’re not alone.
Hilary´s last blog ..Indoor Air Quality
June 21st, 2010 @ 9:51 PM
Like it Lina – I’m getting to that point now where I’m finding it hard to find the motivation to go to work. It doesn’t help that the company is going through a quiet patch at the moment so work is a bit thin. I am however using this to my advantage – less work means I can spend more time fine-tuning my IM skills so that I can give it up completely
Colin´s last blog ..Gratitude
June 21st, 2010 @ 10:47 PM
Hi Lina,
It’s sad to hear that so many people hate their job. Spending the majority of your waking hours in a job you hate would just grind you down until you were numb… reducing the highs and the lows. It’s great to hear that you broke out of the routine and grasped another path with two hands – with some great help from internet marketing.
David Moloney´s last blog ..What is the Best Domain Hosting
June 21st, 2010 @ 11:01 PM
Hi Lina,
I’m sitting here thinking that the saddest saddest thing I ‘hated’ about my job – well, the one I continued for the greatest period of my life, was that it no longer reflected it’s own values. It is, however, inspiring to find that there actually are organizations and companies and People who stand up for their values, mission statements and intentions to contribute to humanity. And I surprise myself to find that Marketing can have lots and lots of great stuff attached to it. Congratulations for recognizing your feelings, and for Doing something to change your circumstances to align more with who you are. I commend you, and I thank you – for how else would I be reading this?
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Wealth Creation – Coffee and Internet Marketing
June 22nd, 2010 @ 2:13 AM
Hi Lina,
Loved your article. It reminded me why I have the best job in the world….being a Mother. Being able to impart your values to your own children, and have them grow into beautiful young people with compassion, understanding and using virtues in their own lives, well, there’s no better feeling!
Beats going to a “job” you hate any day!
Cath
June 22nd, 2010 @ 11:52 AM
Hi Lina
Love your post and I do know what it is like to do something you hate just for the money,mine was clothing alterations I had been doing since I was 14years old. now I am free, doing what I want to do and loving it.
Rita Pepper´s last blog ..Learn and Earn
June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:19 PM
I guess there are 2 pro-active solutions I know of when the thought “I hate my job” comes to mind.
1. Do what you did Lina, (leave it).
2. Use EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques to get over it.
EFT can make the worst jobs more bearable.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..The Secret Of Healing The Shadow Self And Tapping Into The Riches Of The Dark Side
June 22nd, 2010 @ 12:42 PM
Hi Lina,
Another fabulous blog post.:-)
I’m so happy for you that your Internet Marketing has been fruitful financially but more important personally, by giving you the confidence and independence you craved.
I have been very fortunate and most of the jobs I have had I have loved, or enjoyed in one way or another, or at least been able to find positives to keep me going. I’m happy to say I never had to resort to typing those words into google!
As of next week I will be self-employed, how exciting! I can’t wait. And if I hate my job? I can blame the boss!!
You inspire me, Lina, and once Colin has gone into IM full time I will follow suit. Happy days,
Lizzy
Lizzy´s last blog ..Gratitude
June 22nd, 2010 @ 1:30 PM
Great post again Lina.
Those numbers are pretty staggering.
I don’t hate my job but I sure don’t enjoy working for someone else and seeing the stupid decisions that are made.
I am looking forward to the day when I can join you in the ranks of on line success.
Gee
Gee Hollings´s last blog ..Are Keyword Research Services Really Worth It?
June 22nd, 2010 @ 3:52 PM
Nice article Lina,
Do you know how many people typed in “I love my job”?
Daniel´s last blog ..Doing work you love requires integrating these three elements: 1. Skill (using your innate abilities), 2. Enjoyment (activities that you find intrinsically enjoyable), and 3. Meaning (activities that have meaning for you). Aligning all three is the jackpot, your calling or living your bliss (adapted from John Clarke).
June 22nd, 2010 @ 8:54 PM
Hi Lina,
Loved your post!!
My reasons are a little different for Learning Internet Marketing. I dont hate my job as such but i am so looking forward to leaving work and raising a family working from home. That is what motivates me to strive for success.
Belinda
BelindaO´s last blog ..Learn & Earn from Aussie Internet Marketer Sean Rasmussen for free.
June 22nd, 2010 @ 10:17 PM
G’day Lina,
A problem addressed and an answer found is how I see your excellent post. Love the way you turn the HATE emotion into a positive emotion.
Cheeres
Harry
Harry Lynn´s last blog ..SEAN RASMUSSEN’S ” LEARN AND EARN ” COMPETITION.
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:09 AM
Hi everyone, thanks for your insightful comments and for sharing. I bet your contribution will help many others who are unhappy in their jobs.
Hi Daniel – Great question. The answer is: 12,100 people typed “i love my job” into google in May 2010. Not near as many as “i hate my job”, but definitely evidence that it is possible for people to love what they do.
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:19 AM
Hi Lina,
I agree with you, life is all about getting on with things, and if you don’t like your current situation in life…do something about it.
Although I don’t hate my current job, I have been in jobs when I was really unhappy, so I did something about it.
Most people have perceived barriers such as financial commitments or personal issues. But if you want change in life, you have to find a way around them
It can take time, but with persistence anything is possible.
Cade´s last blog ..Learn & Earn from Aussie Internet Marketer Sean Rasmussen for free.
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:05 AM
Thanks Lina,
What an insightful post. Many people go to work with that dreaded “I don’t want to go” feeling. As adults in the Western world we are encouraged to pursue the dream of owing a home and raising a family. Before we know it we have a mortgage with increasing interest rates a growing family and can’t consider leaving work because the bills just never stop. It’s no wonder that people are looking for another way, a better way of earning income. Internet Marketing business is quickly becoming very popular as it can be done part time (to supplement income), is inexpensive to get started (unlike traditional business) and results can deliver financial freedom in a relatively short time. The key is learning the skills to start your own internet marketing business with somebody who will teach you properly and lead you through the process with great support. There are plenty of rouges out there who just want your money and don’t deliver on their promises. I know that you are on the right path, you have learned your internet marketing skills from the best, and it shows!!
Thanks again!!
Bev Langford´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Competition Has Begun
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:11 AM
Great post Lina, so many people hate their jobs and feel “stuck” with no options which is sad. I think this is because they have such large mortgages and debt which stifles their creativity to think of ways to get themselves out of the job they hate.
Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Falling Pregnant
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:28 PM
WoW Lina. No words ever rang so true.
I definitely agree that there is a percentage of the workforce who put in minimal effort and expect maximum return, all the while complaining and whinging how hard they work (during their 40 minute coffee breaks or multiple smoke breaks throughout the day).
Then there is also the flip side of this where people are worked to the point of breaking down. Constant pressure form clients, managers, team members all builds up. The relentless battle to improve service, lower costs and essentially prop up the company profits and stocks leads to the common employee working in a workplace that consists of low moral, nil expectation and a feeling of helplessness.
The more distressing thing about this is that while many do put in 100% each and every day, they are not shown any gratitude or reward. So this just leads to further misery and dissatisfaction in a job that you essentially spend the best part of your life doing.
Taking the leap as you put it can sometimes be a life changing experience for many. Our judgments are clouded by the fear of the unknown and the ‘what-ifs’.
I am happy that you put your plan together and took the leap. I am even more happy that I have recently done the same
Cemil´s last blog ..Entrepreneurs Mindset Releases First eBook – Finding Your Passion
June 29th, 2010 @ 7:43 PM
I stumbled into working for a big international bank which shall remain nameless in mortgage operations. Enjoyed the first 3 years of it but by the 4th year I was over it! Due to the extremely rude managers in another department I had to do work for, I jumped ship and joined one of my colleagues to a well known Australian bank in the home loans department. Bad mistake! Compulsory overtime, being paid o/t in gift vouchers, a department manager who would bring in changes like you can only use yellow highlighters and use black pens without stating the reasons behind it (it is easier to scan) was getting me down. I was getting depressed, lost all the joy in life and became quite miserable, frankly!
Then I made the decision to start studying social work. I wanted a more rewarding job in helping people and always wanted to go to uni but didn’t know what I wanted to study. Social work seemed ideal. My marks weren’t high enough to get in so I did 2 uni preparation courses 2 nites a week for a year and gained entry through this path to finally end up studying a course that I am extremely passionate about.
4 years of fulltime work mind you is hard and yes like everyone else, thought about quitting in my 2nd year. I worked 2 jobs every semester break to keep up with my lifestyle of travelling o/s every year and I’m now getting into my final semester after 4 long but quite rewarding years. Anything is achievable when you put your mind to it! A lot of friends I speak to say they could never go back to studying university (I’m 31 so not a spring chicken anymore!). Financially it is hard especially since I am still paying off an investment property which I’ve had since I was 23.
As Lina says, its the leap of the unknown to going through a career change that is the scary part. I think our fear of failure definitely drives us to the point that we make a point of succeeding. It is so easy to become locked into the comfort zone and just stay put, complaining without doing anything about it!
Lina, you’ve done so well to quit the job that you didn’t like to becoming a successful business owner. Keep up with the great work! I’m with you all the way! We’ve made the necessary changes to our lives to become better and stronger people
July 4th, 2010 @ 12:28 PM
You guys, lemme tell you something. I absolutely hated my old job. You know what I did? I looked for one that i could do, make tons of money, and work for myself. I thought it would be iimpossible. I tried for years to find something, and i finally did. I quit my old job and started with my current one. Wanna know what i do? I check my email, and there are 600 companies that pay me $25 per email!!! I can make $1000’s a day. It’s great!!! Normally, i would keep this to myself, but i bet my friend $500 that i couldn’t get 100 ppl to match my success. I need to win. Please help me. If you pay a one time $20 fee to codyortz1@yahoo.com via paypal, i will help you through the first week so you can match my success. Please help!! Email me if you have questions, please.
July 4th, 2010 @ 2:49 PM
Wow Lina, you have really struck a chord here – lots of response to a great post.
I’ve had jobs in the past which have been fine to start with but became a real drag by the end. The sort of thing I used to dread turning up to. So I can definitely empathise with those who say ‘I hate my job’.
Keep up the good work.
Tom´s last blog ..The Top 10 Article Directories – Part 3 – A Detailed Look
July 6th, 2010 @ 9:30 PM
Hi Tom
Thanks for your comment. I know you’ve had really cool jobs too, and that you’re in one that you’re pretty happy with at the moment. So you know the difference. It’s a helluva lot better when you’re in a job you like, or even love.
July 10th, 2010 @ 8:18 PM
Hello Lina,
Great blog post. I am about to start a new job next week – one that I know I will enjoy. How huge is that – 1650 english speaking people are searching for answers to the question I hate my job.
We are born on earth for a reason – a purpose. Imagine if everyone lived a life with their dreams being their reality? Now that would be a great world!!
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood´s last blog ..Healthy Lifestyle
July 15th, 2010 @ 9:03 PM
Lina,
Your blog keeps getting better and better.
Love the reading, thanks for sharing all that you do.
Rob
July 16th, 2010 @ 11:25 AM
Hi Rob – Thanks for being a big support of this blog and of me. Happy to share with people like you, it’s a pleasure
.